Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 2 (28/11/2015 13:15)

I was fortunate that this particular game had been postponed twice, due to the inclement weather of northwest Derbyshire, as the game should have been played while I was on holiday.  The re-arrangement allowed me to see another team that I saw win in round one, Hilton Harriers, and as such this was to be another 'road to the cup final' game.
Hilton, and their hosts Whaley Bridge Athletic, are tier 11 teams playing, respectively, in the Staffordshire and Cheshire leagues.
An 80 minute drive with my father saw us arrive at a very wet and blustery Horwich Park shortly after the Hilton players. The players had just left the bus and we witnessed the bus driver expertly negotiating the tight side streets of Whaley Bridge in an attempt find a suitable parking spot for the full sized coach.
Like many football grounds in the north of the county, Horwich Park lies in some stunning countryside. The facilities themselves at the ground were modern and fortunately the function room / changing rooms had a pavilion style roof which meant that we had cover from the rain from where we could watch the game.
Athletic had the weather on their backs in the first half and with that made a better start to the game. Within 15 minutes they were two up. The first came from a foul and a penalty and the second came from a right wing shot that snuck under the keeper at the near post. Athletic struck the woodwork twice before Harriers managed to create a chance, the striker firing high and wide from a good position.
As the first half was coming to an end a bobbling ball in a crowded box struck an Athletic player's arm and a penalty was awarded. The penalty was calmly converted, high and wide of the keeper's left hand. A 2:1 lead for Athletic was probably a fair reflection of the first half.
After the break Athletic were soon 3:1 up. The Harriers left back was dispossessed and the Athletic right-winger got to the byline and placed a measured cross onto a colleague's head who neatly finished from 7 yards out.
After the fourth goal had been scored the game was fairly even and both teams had a couple of half chances to score but the game saw no more goals and Athletic were through to the third round and a plum tie away at Alfreton Town.
On a personal note I was hoping that Hilton would have made it through. I have a friend who plays for the veterans team and it is fantastic that such a new club is contributing so much to the local community. The Harriers' chairman explained to us today how the club has, as the Hilton expands, ambitions to progress up the footballing pyramid. I soon hope to see Harriers playing in the East Midlands Counties Football League Premier Division (tier 10). But, with six Derbyshire Senior Cup games seen so far, my 'road to the cup final' teams are now Whaley Bridge Athletic and Heanor Town.